*

hurt keeps us going.
hurt loves itself.
nourishes, feeds & medicates
its hurting self.

it will do everything in
its power to keep
from getting hurt.

i thought i was alone
sitting on the couch
when suddenly
hurt sat down beside me.
all smiles.
begging for my company

you can make a robot
from hard feelings.
& i know how the branches
that trusted the water
felt when they were
ice-trapped.

and i know a rock
layer by layer
formed from what we said
& what we did when we were
hurting each other, ourselves.

i know we owned that hurt.
i know it became a precious stone.
i know the hold we have
on perfecting hurt
until its the diamond
that cuts.